davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

halts for burial in that lonely desert of
grass. Of births there were always
some, and of accidents generally many.
But said the colonel, ssore eyes were
abundant, and of sore mouths and lips
we had preposterously large supply.
To wipe fine dust from watery eyes with
a rough coat sleeve or dirty apron was
not pleasant, but the very acme of
petty torture was to lick circle
round a pair of raw lips" Nature on
the plains seemed awry to these adven-
turers. For long whites the absence of
even insect life made the silence painful,
and then again the very earth would
seem covered with buffalo or dotted with
the cities of the prairie dogs, and the air
would be blackened with dense flights of
locusts. Then the horses and oxen be-
gan to perish, the heat shrunk the wood
work OF the wagons and some of them
had to be abandoned, and as the Rockies
doomed up in the near distance every
thing that could be spared at any cost of
annoyance or regret was flung away to
Tighten the loads. The sides of the trail
began to be Uttered with books, chairs,
harness, keepsakes, heirlooms, chests and
all the wreckage and riff-raff of the pio-
neer who had gone before. Even the
clothing that could be done without,
though sure to be precious at the jour
ney's end, had to be flung away and the
little boys and the women got out of the
carts and stood ready to push the loads
from behind, for the teams had grown
feeble.
There was no pause, for Indians
skulked behind, lowered on either side
and hung about in front-whether in
tending to gather force and make an
attack or not there was no way to tell.
Thus the journey wagged along for
weeks and months. The newspapers of
the pioneers were the bleached bones
along the roadside. On the white skull
bones of the buffalo or the shinbones of
oxen the pioneers wrote messages and
LETT them conspicuously posted by the
Important news, gossip and valuable
advice were scattered in this way This
manner of writing was called the "bone
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17
WHAT ALLIED HIM,
The Domestic Tragedy of the Misplaced
Envelopes.

The Domestic Tragedy of the Misplaced
Envelopes.
Do you see that man. my son?
The man with u look of despair on his coun-
tenance and piece of court-plaster across
the same?
Yea, verify. You observe him?
do. Wherefore is his look detected and
his aspect somewhat crestfallen, if not more
SO?
He is a writer of letters, my son, or rather
he was, for he writes no more now.
Explain unto me why he hath ceased to
write, and what connection exists between
the art of letter-writing and that particular
brand of detection.
I will do so. On Monday he wrote two
letters. One was as follows:
My Darling Wife-Since you have been in the
country have led lonesome and miserable
existence. When | come back to nv dreary
home miss you and the children so much that
it seems as though all the brightness had gone
out of my life. Believe me. my darling it will
be the happiest day of my life when welcome
you home.
The other letter was thus:
Dear Jsan-Come down right away. The old
lady is off in the country, and will be gone two
weeks. Have laid IN large supply of red
paint. but will postpone toot until you come
The elephant was never in better condition
for inspection.
Next day the mans wife came home in
hurry, although she bad not been sent for,
and notwithstanding the fact that her vaca-
ton had not expired. She was loaded. She
made her presence felt, and the poor man
has had neither inclination nor opportunity
to utilize his red paint.
And how did all this happen7
Very simply, my son. In addressing bis
envelopes this poor unfortunate man man.
aged to get the letters transposed. That was
ali. VIM. III. SIvITER
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

passengers bowling over the prairie in
palace sleepers, or seated at showily
clothed tables, surrounded by the choicest
and freshest viands and served by atten-
tive walters in livery, and the circum-
stances of these venturesome farmers
whose all was in one creaking wagon,
and who, at times, would consider them
selves slgnally blessed could they find
water for themselves and their horses
thought of them more than ever after
that; especially in a thunderstorm |
| encountered on the prairie when the
foundations of the earth seemed to be
shaken, and again when [ heard of the
Wlndstorms that sweep the plains and
OF the snowsqualls that are so dense that
he who is twenty feet from his home
may not be able to find it.
The tale of the trials that came to those
who led the way in pioneering before
the days of transcontinental railroads
was told in Portland, Ore, the other day
so graphically that those who heard it
sat entranced and thrilled. The city
was the scene of an anniversary gather
ing of the pioneers of Oregon. They
were fine-looking men, all gray-haired,
with here and there snowy head among
them, but showing scant traces Of disease
or infrmity, though some of the leaders
of fifty years ago were among them.
You could not have withheld respect
from them had you seen them, but that
feeling would have turned to reverence
could you have heard the story of their
trials that was told by Col. George B.
Curley, a pioneer of 1858. He said that
the train he made the journey in had no
organization. There was no pompous
strut of brief authority. As free men
the journey was begun and finished. The
route lay for hundreds of miles along the
Platte river, through an almost continu-
GUS meadow of tall grass with billowy
sand hills on the right and the yellow
waters of the river on the left
There was no "pantomime of war;" as
ne called it, no mounted men under arms
or pedestrian guards with long rifles on
their shoulders and belts full of knives
around their waists. At first, in the
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

The ship was anchored to the dock, hel
gang" stretched to the shore;
Across its bridge in huddles came Thousand
folk or more.
The captain from the bridge above stooG
bravely into view,
And waved to that departing host sailor
bluff adieu.
All ha! light fits DER his face: smile is
on his lips.
For 10, an angel of maid before his vision
trips;
Her dainty feet peep in and out like CLEANS
beneath her dress,
And every wanton breeze around bestowed a
soft caress.
Her face was as the fairest sky that rooted
summers dream,
And in her azure depths of eyes twin beau
ties fade and geam
The hue of natures reddest rose bloomed
softly on her cheek,
And dimples, every time she laughed, played
dainty hide and seek.
On every side the passengers the custom
lynxes eye,
Till the adroitly-tendered coins admit them
safely by;
But verdant wights who closed the purse
heavy hand detained,
And closer grew the scrutiny the more the
dolts explained.
But ere the heartless officer his furtive
search began,
The gauntlet of those prying eyes the maiden
safely ran,
F1r,f11 In 4ol IN
dread to pass
Then came sudden startling sound that
ruined all, alas!
For where she stood; it almost seemed it
started from the floor,
There came tinkling lullaby-"My dream
of love is DER. ~
And at every silver Ginning note that reached
the startled ear.
The maiden's face grew very red, then white
with pallid fear.
And ere the grim official knew from whence
the music played,
He heard the tinkling melody of Schuberts |
Serenade;
Then, as its plaintive minors came he /
laughed aloud thereat-
Excuse me, dear he said, ''but believe
i smell a rat"
The game was up; the maiden caught. de-
spite her many charms;
And nearly fainting, next she fell in that
officials arms.
'Here, madam, this way if you please" be
said with redeemed face,
you'll find lady just within, who will at
tend your case.'
And when that maiden next emerged she
never finched or quaied;
But, then she had her blushng face with
shielding simmer yelled;
She held parcel in her hands, and as she
passed the door,
Her hustle seemed but half the size that it
bad been before.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17
JULIAN RALPH.
IN IUCATAN.

Inc First House Built There by the Con-
quering Spaniards.
Merida, Iucatan, was founded on the
site OF an ancient Maya city, called Tihoo,
IN 1912, by Don Francisco de Monteio.
lieutenant governor and captain general
He was son of the adelantado, governor
and chief justice of the provinces of
Iucatan and Cozumel, Don Francisco
Monteio.
Having conquered the nation the
Spaniards first built their dwellings like
those of the aboriglnes, which are OBJ
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17
The Ronanza King.

John ". Mackay, according to the San
Francisco Chronicle now sports the red rosette
and diamond cross of the Legion of Honor.
This high honor was conferred upon Mr..
Mackay for the distinguished services rem
dered the people of France by landing his
transatlantic cable at Havre and giving that
with the New World. The bonanza king is
not at all elevated by the honor, and con-
times to take his matutinal appetizer in the
plain old California way, without any friils.
Chicago Tribune.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17
Their Works Their Monuments,

The graves Of three famous men have
lately been visited by Boston Transcript
writer. The pink white rock" he says,
lis the only memorial that marks the grave
of Emerson-a sufficient one for this genera
ton at least, which needs no carved record
to mark the burial place of its greatest ma
tive spiritual guide The little Slab at the
head of the long grave in the Enclosure Of
arbor vitae bears upon it the word 'Haw-
thorne'-that is all. The low head and foot
stones have already grown messy and an
clent in the shade on the hilltop. And the
third grave-stone bears upon it the name of
Henry d. Thoreau, and the brief record of
the birth and death of the man whose wood
notes still so widely echo. Where else in
the world can be found the clustering graves
of three great men that are so simply
marked as these ?'-Erchange.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

strong withes, as are the
rafters Of the roof. This
is very slanting, and made
OF long, thin sticks, closely
interlaced, and matched
with palm leaves brought
down to within three or four
feet of the ground, to serve
as protection from wind and
rain, being cropped short
only over the doorway. The
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

long huts,
with the
co IN e r S
round e d.
The wall
is m a d G
Of posts
about six
feet high
pla nted
i n t h e
grour d,
tied to-
z e t h e r
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

in the cars. But | have seldom been
more mistaken. Day after day, after
ward, saw the prairie schooners just
as they were seen of old, making their
weary ways across the wind-stirred plain,
here hating for the nights rest, there
jogging along with the men beside the
horses heads, while there was glimpse
of woman nursing a baby inside the
covered wagon, perhaps, or stopping at
the place of destination and busy at set
ting up the tent which was to serve as a
home until more substantial and roomy
habitation could be put up. There was
a contrast, indeed-the difference between
the worldly condition of the railroad
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17
ALONE ON THE PLAINS.
NOTES OF THE LIFE THE PIO-
NEERS MUST FACE.
The "Prairie Schooner" Still Seen Now
Creeping Beside the Flying Trains-A
Graphic Story of Early Pioneering in
the West-Indians and Buffaloes.


Despite the strides of civilization and
the progress that has followed man in all
MS walks, the life Of the Western pioneer
Is SUI the existence most strongly con-
'rasteu with life near the centers of pop
ulatlon that it is possible to find. The
miner works with a multitude, and the
traders and Spectators and those who
minister to the vices all follow him and
hulld up busy settlements wherever it is
profitable for him to work. Even the
COWBOY has almost constant company,
and the factors of the Hudson Bay
Company, established beyond the out
posts even of pioneer life and who would
appear to be the most forsaken and nee
essarlly nervy of men, are nevertheless
not so isolated as the pioneer. The
pioneer stands alone-not only as lead
ing the strangest life of anv man, but
literally. 1t was so when he I'd his fell
lows toiled across the prairie an almost
insect speck upon the universe Of grass,
heading for an unknown ha DOR across a
hostile and unprotected waste, and it is
so now that you may ride Ivy half a
dozen railroad lines beside as trails they
wore.
The best, because the newest place to
see pioneer life is in Cana'a. During a
recent trip that | took across the CONT
nent l noticed that the track Of the Cana
dian Pacific railroad ran close beside the
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

Old immigrant trail and
| naturally found myself
often bordering On the
courage, the invincible
perseverance and the
dauntless ambition of
the men and women
who first began to wear
that slender wagon
trail. Being a thorough
tenderfoot myself, with
out any except book
and newspaper knowl-
edge of the country, I
supposed that the last
pioneer had long ago
driven his wagon over
that lonely road and
that settlers nowadays
rode to their homes, or
at least to as near as
thew could get to them.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

interstices between the
posts that form the wall
are filled up with mud,
smoothed and whitewashed.
There are no windows, but
generally two doors, ex-
a0ly opposite each other,
though many have but one.
The huts are fifteen to
twenty feet long and about
ten feet wide. The earth
serves as a floor. These
dwellings wildly recall to
mind those of the Fans
and others of equatorial
Africa, as described by
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17

The most economical man has been heard
from. he tried to pawn a coat of tar and
feathers, the gift of his neighbors Burling.
ton Free Press.
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-08-06

An act of the Legislature, approved
March 20, 1887. provides that every person
who shall officiate at the birth of a child
shall make record thereof, and within
three months after such birth shall make
and deliver to the Recorder of Deeds of
the county wherein the birth took place, a
certificate lnder his hand containing the
facts of such birth. 1t also provides that
every person who shall officiate at the
burial of any deceased person shall make a
record thereof and within two weeks after
such death shall make and deliver, or send
by the due course of mail or express, or by
such other manner as will insure safe
transit, to the Recorder of Deeds of the
county wherein such death took place, a
certificate under his hand containing par
ticulars of such death.
All certificates of births and deaths shall
be filed and recorded by the Recorder in o
book kept for that purpose, and the Board
of Commissioners of the several counties
shall provide blanks certificates, to be paid
for by the county, to be furnished to ply
sicians midwives and undertakers. to en-
able them to carry out and comply with
the requirements of the act.
Failure to comply with the provisions
of the act is punishable by fine of not
less than 500 nor more than $50 for each
ohense, and wilfully making false Ger
ti6cate of any birth or death is punishable
by fine not exceeding $500, or imprison
meet in the county jail for any period not
exceeding six months.
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-08-06
AN ACT

| TO REGULATE HOUSES OF Prostitution DANCE
HOUSES AND HOUSES WHERE BEER, WINE OF
sPIRnUoUs LIQUORS ARE SOLD.
The People Of the State, represented in
Senate and Assembly. do enact as foi
lows:
SECTION /. II shall be unlawful for any
owner, or agent OF any owner, or any
other person to keep any house of ill-fame
or to let or rent fer any length Of time
whatever 20 any woman of ill-fame any
house. room or structure situated within
four hundred yards Of any schoolhouse OF
schoolroom used by any of the public
schools in the State Of Nevada.
SEC. q. II shall be unlawful for any
owner, or agent Of any owner, or any
other person TO keep, let or rent for any
length Of time, or at all, any house front.
ing on the principal business street or thor
oughfare Of any Of the towns of this State
for the purposes OF prostitution, or for the
purpose Of keeping any dance-house, or
house commonly called "hurdy-house, y
or house where wine, beer or spirituous
liquors are sold or served by females or
female walters or attendants or when fe.
males are used or employed to attract or
solicit custom, nor shall any entrance or
exit way to any house referred to in this
poCtou NO AA"uo Va usoO iiOLu tuo
business street or thoroughfare Of any Of
the towns OF this State.
SEC. 8. Any persons violating the pro.
visions of Sections one or two Of this Act
shall be deemed guilty OF misdemesnor,
and on conviction, shall be fined not less
than twenty-five dollars. nor more than
three hundred dollars. or be imprisoned
In the County Jail not less than five nor
more than sixty days, or by both such
fine and Imprisonment, In the discretion
OF the Court.
SEC. 4. The provisions OF this Act
shall not apply to towns and cities now
incorporated.
SEC. s. In The trial OF ell cases arising
nnder the provisions OF this Act, evidence
OF general reputation shall be deemed
competent evidence as TO the question of
She ill-fams OF any house alleged to be
80 kept. and to the question OF the i'll fame
OF such woman.
SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the Dis
trict Attorney aud Sheriff Of each county
In this State to see that the provisions OF
this Act are strictly enforced and carried
into effect, and upon neglecting so to do,
they or either OF them shall be deemed
guilty OF misdemeanor in Office. and may
be proceeded against as provided in Sec-
tions 63 and ~ inclusive OF an Act en-
titled "An Act relating to elections, ap-
proved March IL. 1878.
SEC. z. This Act shall take effect and
be In force from and after the irst day of
NAV, 1887.
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-08-06
THE NEW LICENSE ACT.

Following is the full text of an amend.
ment to the License Act, which was passed
at the last session of the Legislature, and
approved February l, 1887:
SEC. TO- The County Auditor shall
from time to time deliver to the Sheriff as
many of such licenses as may be required,
and shall sign the same and charge them
to the Sheriff !; provided, that before sign.
ing or delivering any license to a Sheriff,
the Auditor shall fill out the license in
full, stating therein to whom said license is
issued, the kind of business authorized to
be carried on under the license, the room,
building and placewhere the business is to be
carried on, the dates when said license be.
gins and expires, and the amount of money
to be paid therefor, and shall at the same
time make entries of the same upon the
stubs in the license-book. Whenever any
license is returned, by the Sheriff, unsold,
and note the fact and date of such cancella.
tion upon the stubs thereof. No Board Of
County Commissioners shall audit or allow
any claim in favor Of Sheriff until there
shall be fled with said Board the certified
statement of the Auditor that all settle.
ments required by the 71st Section of the
Act of which this is amendatory, have
been made by said Sheriff. The amount
of all licenses issued to the Sheriff and not
accounted for shall be deducted before any
claim shall be allowed to Sheriff. Nc
county shall be liable to the Auditor, other
than for his official salary, for any fees oil
for any services required of him under this
Act
The construction placed upon this
amendment is that all persons requiring
licenses shall apply to the Sheriff for the
same, giving in the application descrip
ton of the room or building in which the
business is to be carried on for which the
license Is issued.
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-08-06
District Court Summons
I'm the District Court of the State
OfNevada, Eureka County.

TyHE STATE OF NEVADA SENDS GREET.
Il ing to ]. L. Hinckley and Maggie Winzell,
Administrative OF the estate of Joseph Win
zell, deceased.
You are hereby required to appear In an ac-
ton commenced against you as defendant by
James Sweeney, as plaintiff, in the District
Court of the State of Nevada, County of Eu-
reka, at the town of Eureka, and answer the
complaint therein. which is on file with the
Clerk Of said Court. within ten days after the
service on you of this Summons exclusive Of
the day of service), il served in said County, or
twenty days If served ont Of said County, but
within this District. and In all other cases
forty days; or Judgment by default will be
taken against you. according to the prayer of
said complaint. The said action fs brought to
recover judgment against you. the said defend
from you Jointly ano seversliy to him upon .
certain undertaking on appeal and stay Of exc
cution executed by you, J. L. Hinckley, and one
Joseph Winzell, now deceased. and the Admin
stratrix of whose estate you, Maggie winzell,
are, and filed in the case Of James Sweeney
against G. D. Schultes and William Mcconnell
in the Sixth Judicial District Court of the
State of Nevada. in and for Eureka County, on
the 18th day OF March, 1884, all Of which will
more fully appear by reference to said com.
plant, certified copy Of which Is herewith
served. and to which you are hereby specially re-
ferred.
And you are hereby notified that, if you fail
to appear and answer the said complaint as
above required, the said plaintiff will take
judgment against you for the said sum Of S, OLE
and costs Of suit
INTESTIMONYWHERE F. Il. HARMON.
have hereunto set my hand and affixed
(sEAL the Seal Of said Court this Goth day OF
April, A. D. 1887: F: H; HARMON.
County Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the said
District Court of the State of Nevada. Eu.
reks County.
R. M. BEATTY AND PETER BREES. Attorneys for
Plaintiff. az